Atlanta Facial Paralysis Correction Surgery

Facial paralysis is a disorder caused by damage to the facial nerve. It can drastically affect a person's appearance to the point that it affects a person’s mental well-being. The reason why facial paralysis is so devastating is because it distorts the face and causes an unbalanced facial expression.

Nerve Damage Plastic Surgeon

Facial paralysis is the major cause of a host of cosmetic as well as functional problems. For example, it can cause the loss of muscle movement in the cheek and lip causing speech problems and affect a person's chewing, swallowing, and drinking ability. Facial paralysis can also result in a low asymmetric brow position and eye problems.

What Causes Facial Paralysis?

There are many causes of facial nerve paralysis such as stroke and Bells Palsy. The final common pathway of facial paralysis is loss facial muscle tone and movement. As a result, it creates a sagging of the cheek, lip, nose, eyebrow and lower eyelid with an inability to fully close the upper eyelid.

One of the most distressing experiences for patients is the loss of facial expressions. Losing the ability to effectively convey emotion and mood can take a huge toll on ones self-esteem.

There are two types of procedures that correct the smile/drooping mouth: Dynamic and static reanimation procedures. Dynamic reanimation procedures restore movement to the corner of the mouth and cheek. These procedures include: temporalis slings and temporalis tendon transfers. Eye protection is important to prevent chronic eye issues and visual problems and is usually performed with a lateral tarsal strip procedure (lower eyelid tightening) and an upper eyelid gold weight.

Static reanimation procedures basically restore the resting symmetry of the mouth and cheek area without the ability for movement and can dramatically improve chewing, speech and facial balance. Static Reanimation procedures commonly include: Fascia Lata grafts and Gortex slings.

A brow lift corrects the eyebrow asymmetry from facial paralysis so it is barely noticeable at rest. A face lift may also be used to restore facial harmony. The patient can have a more natural-looking facial expression and an improved sense of self-esteem. Facial paralysis reconstructive procedures have helped many patients with facial paralysis gain an improved facial appearance.